Carbon balance for wood production from sustainably managed forests

This Short Communication Paper approaches the CO2 emissions from forest biomass produced in sustainable managed forests from aspects related to photosynthesis and variations in vitality and capability of CO2 uptake, depending on i.a. different rotation periods and management regimes. These aspects are ignored or diminished in most other analyses on the subject as those analyses typically are based on simplified rigidly structured models. This Short Communication Paper suggests application of more relevant methodologies closer to actual real conditions. Two CO2 issues are covered; the CO2 balance between growth and harvesting of biomass in sustainably managed forests, and combustion of woody biomass in comparison with fossil fuels with regard to CO2 emissions. The analysis of the first issue leads to the conclusion that biomass harvested from sustainably managed forests should be regarded as carbon neutral as the vitality and CO2 absorption is sustained and kept on the same (or better) level. Moreover, to transform old pristine forests to young vigorous forests would be an effective (long term) means of reducing atmospheric CO2. Regarding the second issue, we notice that some other authors of papers on bioenergy claim that biomass would not be climate neutral when used for energy as, for generation of a given energy amount, more fixed carbon is released from biomass than from fossil fuels. In our opinion, authors of these papers apply obsolete, too general or sometimes illogical default values. This Short Communication Paper suggests that emissions from combustion of forest biomass should be compared with emissions from coal as it is the most common and relevant fuel to replace. Also additional emissions from mining/harvesting, transport, leakage, etc. should be included both for biomass and for reference fuels like coal, gas, and oil. The comparison should also be based on state-of-the-art technology, which for biomass would mean i.a. flue-gas condensing and efficient fuel treatment. Under these conditions, typical biomass applications for energy would be both carbon neutral and climate neutral. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.